PECO: Downingtown gas leak resolved (Update)

Firefighters from the Downingtown fire department stand by at a major gas leak at the intersection of Lancaster and Brandywine avenues in the center of the Downingtown business district during the afternoon rush Thursday. Thousands of motorists had to be detoured around the leak that occurred as PECO gas crews were working to correct a separate issue in the area, when they struck a four-inch high pressure main, according to officials. It took PECO crews a little over four hours to get the situation under control. Photos by Tom Kelly IV

DOWNINGTOWN — A natural gas leak that led to road closures and evacuations Thursday night at routes 322 and 30 has been repaired, according to a PECO spokesman.

Eight businesses and about 15 residents were evacuated Thursday after a 4-inch high pressure natural gas line was struck by work crews. The intersection, a key crossroads at the borough’s commercial center, was closed overnight.

PECO spokesman Ben Armstrong said Friday the road had been temporarily patched and reopened. All gas and power services were also restored, Armstrong said. Crews will return once weather conditions improve to permanently repair the road.

Downingtown Mayor Josh Maxwell on Thursday said PECO crews had been in the area for about 36 hours working on gas lines when a high pressure main was struck, allowing large amounts of gas to escape. At one point a plume of flame emerged from the pipe, Maxwell said.